An anti-terrorist operation in Grozny, the capital of Russia's Republic of Chechnya is over. The head of the republic says up to 10 law enforcement officers have been killed and nine militants have been eliminated.

"The operation to destroy the bandits is entering its final
phase," Ramzan Kadyrov wrote on his Instagram page, claiming
he is personally supervising the operation. At about 8am Kadyrov
informed that the operation will end "in 20 minutes."

At the same time another group of militants has been reportedly
blocked in a school, and the operation is underway to resolve the
situation.

Russia's National
Anti-Terrorism Committee confirmed surrounding a group of
militant group in the Press House in Grozny and invoking a
counter-terrorist operation to neutralize the assailants.

The Committee announced that after midnight a group of armed men
in three cars carried out an attack on a police post. After that
the assailants hid inside the Press House building in the center
of Grozny.

“Currently FSB, Interior Ministry, Emergencies Ministry
forces completely blocked off the building of the Press
House," National Anti-Terrorism Committee said in a press
release, RIA Novosti reports.

Initial reports indicated that at least three policemen have been
killed when militants opened fire at a police road post. However
a source in law enforcement told RIA Novosti that five policemen
have died while a number have been wounded.

Grozny police announced that they are dealing with five-six armed
men. Kadyrov also confirmed via Instagram that policemen were killed when they
attempted to stop the cars carrying up to six gunmen.

“We received field information about a car with suspicious
armed men. Their orientation was sent to all law enforcement
agencies,” Kadyrov wrote.

Kadyrov says that the attackers assaulted the law officers
dressed in police uniforms.

"Dressed in police uniforms, they made their way and killed
innocent boys who carried the service at this post. They will not
escape retribution," Kadyrov said in a Istagram video post
in the Chechen language.

Kadyrov also promised that the operation will be over by morning,
while refuting rumors that the militants now control the streets.

“I ask residents in areas where the (security) operation is
being carried out to take precautions, and not to go outside
without urgent need, nor to approach the windows,” he wrote.
“All the talk about the city being under the control of
militants is absolutely false.”

Kadyrov also suggested that the militants might have come from
outside the Chechnya.

“We do not exclude the possibility that these people could
come from another region,” Kadyrov wrote, as he explained
that prior to the attack, authorities issued a warning of a
possible assault.